The Best Fall Festivals Of 2016

Featured image by Jeff Thibodeau for Redbulletin

To many of us, summer is known as festival season. While it’s true that the weather provides ample opportunities for music and outdoor events, the #festing doesn’t stop just because the calendar reads September. Aside from the obvious (who could forget Oktoberfest?), there are numerous fall happenings in New York and across the country. This year, there are a ton of events celebrating music, culture, film, and booze. Below, we’re highlighting a number of festivals to look forward to in the later half of 2016.

Photo via Affordable Art Fair

Art is an investment, but we’re firm believers that style isn’t how much you spend, but how you spend it. This is where the Affordable Art Fair comes in. Despite the less than glamorous title, the Affordable Art Fair offers a selection of contemporary art from up-and-comers across the country, all $100-$10,000. Mark this on your calendar, whether you’re looking for an apartment update or just want to play gallerist for a day.

When: Septemer 28-October 2

Photo via Instagram/@tastethestyle

New York has seen its fair share of new music festivals in recent years, from Governor’s Ball to the inaugural Panorama Festival in 2016. The latest addition to the mix is The Meadows, held in Queens at Citi Field and Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The festival brings some of the hottest names from R&B, indie, and electro-pop: Kanye, J Cole, Zhu, Chairlift, and BØRNS, to name a few. We’re most excited about the food lineup, which features eats from TTS faves like Luke’s Lobster, Jeepney, and Uma Temakeria. You can catch the festival this weekend.

When: October 1-2

Photo via Target

Each year, music and food converge on Austin, Texas for Austin City Limits. Spanning the first two weekends in October, this year’s fest has an exhaustive list of acts ranging from Radiohead and LCD Soundsystem to Flying Lotus and Joey Purp. Aside from checking out the tunes, you can chow down on Tex Mex, burgers, and barbecue. To elevate the experience, ACL is rolling out a local five course meal, Feast Under The Stars, before weekend two. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate fall than with music, beers, and authentic southern grub.

When: September 30-October 2; October 7-9

Photo via Wikicommons

It’s not realistic for us to visit Cannes or Toronto, but the New York Film Fest brings the best under-the-radar films and filmmakers close to home. From big features to small films, retrospectives, and documentaries, the NYFF offers something for every audience. There are tons of talks and free events throughout the week, too. Whether you’re a film buff or just bored of the AMC, check out one of the year’s next hottest films.

When: September 30-October 16

Photo via Refinery29

If you missed out on Brooklyn’s Afropunk Fest, not to fear: You can road trip down to Georgia for Afropunk Atlanta. There will be performances from artists like SZA, Gallant, and Lion Babe, but the real cause is collective consciousness. The weekend begins with a “Fancy Dress Ball” and offers a space for black producers, creators, and activists as well as allies to rally and celebrate African-American culture. Much like the Brooklyn festival, we’re expecting Atlanta to bring killer street style, as well.

When: October 14-16

Photo via Eatboutique

There are tons of things that get us excited about fall, but none more than fall drinks. When we’re not sipping a cocktail, you can find us with a beer or cider in hand, which is why we’re looking forward to Cider Week NYC. The week’s events include cider and cheese tastings, “Porktoberfest” (which is exactly what it sounds like), and a harvest dinner. The main attraction, the Lower East Cider Fest on Orchard Street — think free cider tastings, entertainment, and local apple farmers — is the closest thing you’ll find to an actual orchard in Manhattan.

When: October 21-30

Photo via Consequence of Sound

Do Halloween Lousiana style at Voodoo Festival. The over the top festival considers itself the “musical gumbo” — basically, a big mix of music, food, and art. Everything is loud, colorful, interactive, and spooky, making for a can’t-miss weekend. Over 65 indie, alt rock, and electro-pop bands and artists will perform during the three day festival. Grab a po’ boy and pack your bags for this end-of-fall extravaganza.